Abstinence
The most comprehensive viewpoint describing the actions that character
education takes with sex education is located in the Character Education Partnership
(CEP) position statement: Character-Based Sex Education in Public Schools. The CEP
argues sexual behavior is determined by values, not mere scientific or factual knowledge.
In conjunction with the core values character education seeks to invoke, sex education
is based on the ethical values such as respect, responsibility, and self-control
to the sexual domain.
By character-based sex education, the CEP means that "it should be directive,
guiding students-through thoughtful curricula, medical evidence, and ethical reasoning-toward
right decisions about sex that are in their own best interests and in the best interests
of society" (CEP, 1994, 2). Abstinence means avoiding sexual intercourse as
well as any activity involving genital contact. Abstinence education is "directive"
sex education which differs from the non-direct "Comprehensive Sex Education"
which encourages teens to make their own decisions. Abstinence education promotes
the reasons for waiting until marriage to have sex, "confident that young people
respond positively when he instruction is well reasoned supported by evidence, and
when it comes from and adult they respect and trust" (MISH,1996, 7). The ideology
behind abstinence is promoted through ethical reasoning, medical evidence, videos,
role-playing and real life stories.
For a Pro-Abstinence Education link:
http://bsd.mojones.com/mother_jones/JF95/bernstein.html